I have to applaud the Solid Edge team's efforts to explore novel and more budget-friendly ways of pricing CAD software. While they are not quite near the levels of the many lower-cost CAD tools currently available, I think we'll see more iterations of this kind of multi-tier, monthly subscription price model from them and perhaps other CAD vendors--and not just for a specialty community like Local Motors. I see these announcements as a simple testing of the waters.

Nice article, Beth. I would imagine that most PLM software would work well in the subscription model. Let the software maker own the software. All the user needs is the functionality. I would imagine the subscription model would also lend itself more to continual updates. But maybe the pricing model doesn't affect the update process.

Rob, yes PLM does lend itself well to the subscription model. In this case, it's not that the software is owned and run by and at the provider, however, as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery model. This is purely a pay-by-the-month and pay-by-the-pound usage model, which is helpful, particularly for smaller companies wanting to take advantage of PLM without the huge upfront licensing costs.

So a top-of-line offering with full FEA, wireharness and design functions, pipe and tube routing and other features is $299/month? A price of $3,600 per year for all that seems amazingly low to me. How does that compare with, say, a few years ago?

I see this as a good way for schools or after school clubs to affordably share this product with younger students that are learning about 3D CAD and drawing. It's a really good way to get into a market that might be more accessible on a per month type basis.

@jmiller. I agree. I don't think this is the license for students/educational facilities because it's too expensive. But the Solid Edge team did come out with a license specifically for students as have other CAD providers. The student edition of Solid Edge is available to full- or part-time students as a free, 12-month license, only available via download. The version is not intended to be used for commercial purposes so it can't share CAD models with professional versions of Solid Edge like the ones Local Motors is offering to its community.

Curious, does it allow you to share models with other student versions? Quite often in the classroom more and more teachers are focusing on team work and working in groups. Having the ability to share with other students would be very helpful. I understand the reason they don't want files shared with the professional versions.

My guess is that there is some sort of share capability for other Student editions of Solid Edge, but that you can share models across versions with the Professional portfolio. In that way, they encourage the team collaboration in class that you're referring to without any risk of companies buying it for professional use because it is a cheaper option.

Virtual Reality (VR) headsets are getting ready to explode onto the market and it appears all the heavy tech companies are trying to out-develop one another with better features than their competition. Fledgling start-up Vrvana has joined the fray.

A Tokyo company, Miraisens Inc., has unveiled a device that allows users to move virtual 3D objects around and "feel" them via a vibration sensor. The device has many applications within the gaming, medical, and 3D-printing industries.

While every company might have their own solution for PLM, Aras Innovator 10 intends to make PLM easier for all company sizes through its customization. The program is also not resource intensive, which allows it to be appropriated for any use. Some have even linked it to the Raspberry Pi.

solidThinking updated its Inspire program with a multitude of features to expedite the conception and prototype process. The latest version lets users blend design with engineering and manufacturing constraints to produce the cheapest, most efficient design before production.

Focus on Fundamentals consists of 45-minute on-line classes that cover a host of technologies. You learn without leaving the comfort of your desk. All classes are taught by subject-matter experts and all are archived. So if you can't attend live, attend at your convenience.